Government is to rule over Northumberland Coal mine News - New civil engineer

Despite government commitments to reduce nations' carbon footprint and stop climate change, Druridge Bay could produce 3 million tons of coal if plans for a new coal mine there are approved.

The Minister for Communities and Local Government James Brokenshire has begun reviewing plans to open a new coal mine in the UK.

Plans for the Highthorn Surface mine had previously been rejected by its predecessor, Sajid Javid, but the move was overturned in court.

The project is led by the Banks Group, the only group dedicated to opening new coal-mining facilities in the UK. The last deep coal mine in the UK, Kellingley Colliery, ceased operation in December 2015.

The Banks Group states on its website to carry out coal mining in a "sustainable way".

"As a company, we commit to extracting coal in the most sustainable way possible and ensuring that the country has enough energy to meet its energy needs."

With regard to coal production, the national planning policy states: "The extraction of coal should not be authorized unless the proposal is environmentally sound or can be made by planning conditions or commitments. If not, it offers national, local or community benefits that clearly outweigh the likely effects of granting planning permission. "

Gavin Styles, Managing Director of Banks Mining, described the high-horn scheme as "sound".

"The Highthorn system has been extensively tested by both a local authority with many years of experience in the extractive industry and by an independent planning inspector, and this turned out to be a solid system that should be continued," he said.

"We would therefore urge Mr. Brokenshire to give us permission to speed up work at Highthorn as soon as possible, and to be able to take stock of investment and job creation in Northumberland for four decades goes back. "

Banks Mining argues that the Highthorn system could create 100 jobs on the site, invest £ 87m into the Northumberland economy, and keep £ 200m in the UK economy by not importing coal.

What you have read To receive New Civil Engineer daily and weekly newsletters, click here.